Owing to the fact that herbs have been an important source of medication in virtually all cultures and societies in this present time.
The rate at which herbal medicine has been increasing in recognition is alarming. Herbal medicines are naturally occurring, plant-derived substances with minimal or no industrial processing that have been used to treat illness within local or regional healing practices. Traditional herbal medicines are getting significant attention in global health debates, because of its natural healing methods.
Herbal medicines is an important tool for empowering and enriching the capacity and quality of public health systems. It provides more comprehensive approach to health systems, preserves cultural diversity and facilitate human development.
The Nigerian Government has recognized the need and shown political will by approving and adopting guidelines for the practice of traditional medicine. The regulatory authority, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has also taken steps to protect the health of consumers by drafting the 'Guidelines for the Registration and Control of Herbal Medicinal Products and Related Substances in Nigeria. Herbal medicinal products manufactured on a large scale, whether imported or locally manufactured, must be registered and their advertisement messages and scripts approved by NAFDAC prior to their marketing.
Herbal medicine has several benefits such that it is cost effective and affordable, modern medical practice and pharmaceutical drugs are becoming more expensive that the common man can hardly afford them. The growing testimonies of increasing effectiveness of herbal medicine, coupled with much lower occurrence of side effects, have made Herbal medicine a ready alternative indeed to Modern medicine.
Also, herbal products in form of supplements, herbal teas, extract, essential oils and so on, are easy to come by.
The problem of Herbal medicine in Nigeria is that it is not well documented. Practitioners all over the country have died not having recorded the knowledge of Herbal medicine for descendants.
There is no doubt that this trend is about to change as I see a lot of being generated by present day practitioners.
Herbal medicine has been practiced and used for the treatment of numerous ailments for centuries.
Nature has blessed humanity with a huge number of different herbs, Laden with tremendous amount of medicinal properties that can be deployed for the treatment and prevention of different ailments.
Your individual treatment plan may include herbal remedies and, where appropriate, dietary changes or nutritional supplements. Most herbal medicines are given in the form of a liquid tincture that is taken in 5ml doses of two or three times daily. You may also be prescribed a herbal tea, tablets, ointment, cream or lotion.
After the initial consultation, three or four shorter consultations are usually necessary to assess your progress, followed by check-ups every three to six months, depending on the nature of your condition. Because herbal medicines work in a gentle and subtle way, they can take longer to work than orthodox drugs. If you notice no improvement afterwards, see you doctor.